Conservation Fellow

George Washington University

  • Washington DC
  • Permanent
  • Full-time
  • 16 days ago
I. JOB OVERVIEWJob Description Summary:The Textile Museum is an institution with a nearly one-hundred year history, an established audience, and a respected collection of textile art representing six continents and five millennia. The museum's conservation department is one of the oldest in the US, beginning practice in the 1920s. Through exhibitions, programs, and academic courses, the museum integrates with diverse disciplines to enrich research, education, and cultural understanding across and beyond the university. The museum strengthens the established reputation of GW as a leader in training the next generation of museum professionals.The Conservation Fellow supports post-graduate textile conservators at an early stage of their careers by advancing their exhibition and research skills. They will develop practical experience in project management, treatment and mount preparations, rehousing, experimental design and execution and instrumental analyses.Responsibilities include:
  • Lead conservator preparing an exhibition of roughly 30 textile objects to include treatment and mount planning and execution, rehousing, packing for transit, interdepartmental coordination and installation and de-installation. Project management, workflow efficiency and inter-departmental coordination skills will be developed.
  • Executing a research project utilizing the TM collection and/or the Avenir Conservation and Collections Resource Center's equipment. Research can be as directed by the department, as proposed by the fellow or as a continuation of graduate thesis research. The fellow will utilize the lab's equipment such as wet cleaning system, freezer, anoxic system, dye machine, portable xrf, stereo and polarized light microscopes, multiband imaging system and fiber optics reflectance spectroscopy (FORS). Additional instrumentation may be available via GW Chemistry. Research findings will be disseminated through various outlets.
  • The fellow may collaborate with the department's preventive conservation technicians to build supervision skills.
  • In some terms, the fellow will serve as an emerging professional's liaison for the lab, to support efforts for that cohort, including workshops.
  • Performs other duties as assigned. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning additional responsibilities that are logically related to the position.
The selected fellow would join the museum for a one year term, with the potential for renewal. The position is full-time and will report to the chief conservator, with active supervision by two associate conservators and in collaboration with the Megalli Conservation Research Fellow. Work will primarily take place at the Avenir Foundation Conservation and Collections Resource Center on the Virginia Science and Technology campus (Ashburn VA) with periodic work at GW's Foggy Bottom campus.Limited term 12 months with potential to renew. Department will offer a $1500 allowance for conference attendance, research or networking related travel.
Minimum Qualifications:Qualified candidates will hold a Bachelor's degree in an appropriate area of specialization. Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position. Degree requirements may be substituted with an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
Additional Required Licenses/Certifications/Posting Specific Minimum Qualifications:
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Graduate degree from a recognized art conservation program, with a specialization in textiles
  • Museum experience or experience working directly with art objects preferred
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, attention to detail, and an ability to work collaboratively
Typical Hiring Range Commensurate with Experience.II. JOB DETAILSCampus Location: Foggy Bottom, Washington, D.C.
College/School/Department: Academic Affairs
Family Museum & Performing Arts
Sub-Family Museum and Arts
Stream Individual Contributor
Level Level 1
Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-Time
Hours Per Week: 40
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm
Will this job require the employee to work on site? Yes
Employee Onsite Status On-campus (in person)
Telework: No
Required Background Check: Criminal History Screening, Education/Degree/Certifications Verification, Social Security Number Trace, and Sex Offender Registry Search
Special Instructions to Applicants:Employer will not sponsor for employment Visa status
Internal Applicants Only? No
Posting Number: S012953
Job Open Date: 04/12/2024
Job Close Date:
If temporary, grant funded or limited term appointment, position funded until: 09/09/2025
Background Screening Successful Completion of a Background Screening will be required as a condition of hire.
EEO Statement:The university is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer that does not unlawfully discriminate in any of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

George Washington University